Bayern Moves On

A 2-1 win in Munich's Allianz Arena on Wednesday left the result 4-4 on aggregate and booked Bayern's place in the last eight by virtue of away goals.

It also gave Hitzfeld, 58, the chance to continue his search for a third European crown after winning the trophy with Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern in 2001.

"It is great to be in the last eight, it is good for our image and everything is possible," he said. "We can be proud of beating Real."

Call for aggressive start answered

Hitzfeld planned the Spanish team's downfall by calling for an aggressive start from his team -- and reaped the reward of the fastest goal in Champions League history when Roy Makaay struck just 10 seconds into the game, punishing a lapse on the part of Madrid defender Roberto Carlos.

Munich managed to keep control for the better part of the match, but Madrid were able to impress with bursts of skill they are known for and putting pressure on the Bayern defense at the end of both halves.

Brazilian defender Lucio's second-half header seemed to have secured Bayern's victory before Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Real faint hope with a well-struck penalty with 10 minutes remaining after Lucio was adjudged to have brought down Robinho.

"The penalty was a gift to Real and put them back in the saddle," Hitzfeld said. "The last three or four minutes were tough, but we were still trying to attack."

Real sealed own fate

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello, however, said the reason for his side's elimination was ultimately the gifts they provided to the Bavarians.

"We gave them two presents, Makaay's goal and Van Bommel's at the end of the first leg," Capello told reporters. "The early goal (on Wednesday) changed the match completely. All our plans and preparation went out of the window."

Munich's Mark van Bommel scored what ended up being a crucial second away goal late in the first leg two weeks ago in Madrid that Bayern lost 3-2.

Bayern's quarterfinal opponent will be decided in a draw on Friday.

No silverware yet this season

Hitzfeld returned to Bayern at the start of February after the sacking of Felix Magath, who booked a string of poor results to which the defending German champions were unaccustomed.

Bayern also stuttered in Hitzfeld's early games, losing to Nuremberg and minnows Alemannia Aachen before hitting their stride with a 3-2 victory at Hertha Berlin at the weekend.

They currently are placed fourth in the Bundesliga, six points behind leaders Schalke 04.

But despite injecting new life into Germany's biggest club, Hitzfeld called for caution from any Bayern fans already dreaming of a fourth continental crown.

"We still haven't achieved anything this season," he said. "Everything is at a critical stage."

One thing is for sure -- if Bayern do lift Europe's top club prize in Athens on May 23, it will be Hitzfeld's last game in charge. He confirmed last weekend that he intended to step down at the end of the season.